Ludwig maurer



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

Patented Dec. 18, 1888..

N. PETERS. PhOIO-Lithogr aphar. Washington D. Q

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. MAURER.

CONVERTIBLE SOAPFOLD AND FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 394,781. ented Dec. 18, 1888..-

l v fwN PETERS, PhaloLflMgnphar, Wnhlngkm. n, c.

- (No Model.) 3 Sheets$heet,3.

L. MAU-RER.

CONVERTIBLE SGAFPOLD AND FIRE ESCAPE. No. 394,781. Patented Dec. 18, 18.88.

NlTED STATES Trice.

PATENT LUDlVIG MAURER, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY C. SCHEER, OF SAME PLACE.

CONVERTIBLE SCAFFOLD AND FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,781, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed October 3, 1888. Serial No. 287,041. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDWIG MAURER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Scaffolds and Fire-Escapes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in adjustable scaffolds; and it has for its object to provide a scaffold of this kind which may be quickly and easily adjusted, and which may be converted when desired into a safe and convenient fire-escape.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists in the peculiar combinations and in the novel construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a scaffold constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, shown partly in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line a :r of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line y y of Fig. 1.. Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing the manner of coup- 0 ling the sections of the uprights. Fig. (5 a longitudinal section through the windowclamping mechanism. Fig.7 is a perspective view in which the invention is shown as converted into afire-escape. Fig. 8 is a rear "iew of a portion of the carriage. Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line z of Fig. 2.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the posts or uprights of the scaffold. These uprights are each composed of a series of sect-ions, which are coupled as clearly shown in Fig. 5

of the drawings, the adjacent ends of the sections being provided with bands or ferrules a, which are set into the face of the uprights so that the outer face of the ferrules will be flush 5 5 with the outer faces of the uprights.

b is a central dowel-pin, the base of which is fixedly secured within the upper end of one of the sections of the upright, and this pin is adapted to fit within a suitable opening pro- Vided for the purpose within the end of the next adjacent section. As many of these sections may be employed as maybe required to form a scaffold of the desired height. By this manner of coupling the outer face of the up right is left with a smooth flush surface, and the sections may be readily and easily taken apart or put together when occasion may re quire.

The uprights A are secured in a vertical position by the following means, shown in most of the "iews, and is constructed as fol lows: On the rear face of the uprights is a rib, 0, preferably T-shaped, as shown best in Fig. 4, and constructed to engage the corresponding recess of a block, 15, carried by one portion of the brace or lateral arm 0, which is formed of two parts slidingly secured together by a dovetailed connection, or otherwise, and provided with a set-screw, c, or other similar device, by means of which the two parts may be secured in their adjusted positions. The arm 0 is connected to one portion of the lateral arm I), which is formed of two parts lengthwise adjustably secured together and provided at the outer ends with spurs (I, designed to engage the sides of the windowframe, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4c. The two parts of the arm D are adjust-ably secured together as follows: One part, (1, is pro- 0 vided upon its upper face with the teeth (1 and slides within and is guided by the other part. On the fixed part of the arm D, or on the part that receives the toothed part (Z, is a suitable bracket or casting, e, in 5 which is journaled the transverse shaft f,/ I

provided with a suitable handle and carryipg a pinion, q, which meshes with a larger pinion, 71, carried by the shaft 1', also journalid/ in said casting, and which latter pinioml,

meshes with the pinion g/ In practice'the block 13 isengaged with the rjhi f the up right and the arm C adjusted to bring the upright the required distance from the building. The arm D is then laid upon a windowsill and the shaft f turned to move the part (1 laterally until the spurs d are forced into the sides of the window-frame, as illustrated in the drawings. This securely holds the upright in position, as will be readily understood. One, two, or more of these arms may be used to each upright, as the height of the structure may require.

(1" is a spring pawl or ratchet on one part of the arm I), and, engaging the teeth of the other part to hold the two parts in their adjusted position. It is provided with a suitable handle, (1, by which it is disengaged from the teeth when necessary.

E E are suitable brackets formed with inwardly-extending lugs E, which engage a T- shapcd head, E on the front face of the up right. 6' are arms carried by said bracket and provided with antii-li'rit'ztion rollers 0 which engage behind a flange, e, on the upright. Journaled in the lnracket E is the shaft 11, which extends beyond the same upon each side, and is provided with the fly-wheels F, having suitable handles, f, and centrally on this shaft is secured a pinion, G, which meshes with a pinion, ll, carried by the shaft II, also jonrnaled in. said. ln-acket, and meshin with the racked front face of the i'ipright. lly this means the brackets may be raised and lowcred on the upright as occasion may require.

To hold the bracket in its adjusted position I provide the following mechanism: Secured to the under face of the platform I, carried by the brackets, is a plate, I, to which is secured one end of the spring-pawl K, the opposite end of which is designed to engage the racked face of the upright. orking in a recess, 7., in the under side of the platform is a sliding dog, L, tlnrough a hole in which and a hole in the plate I passes the lever L, pivoted at Z, and havin its lower end bearing on the springpawl K. By the manipulation of this lever both the pawl K and the dog L are simultz'meously operated to cause them to engage or disengage the racked face of the upright.

As a turther hold for the brackets, I pass a shaft, Z, through the upper ends thereof, which shaft is fixed at one end to one of the brackets and at the other is screw-threaded into the other bracket and provided with a suitable handle, by which it maybe turned to 3ompress the brackets agz'iinst the upright,

and thus act as a friction-bralw. The brackets are also preferably provided at thcirlower ends with the arms 77?, carrying the anti-triction rollers m. The shaft of the pinion llis detachably or removably held in position by means of the catch a, pivoted at n, as shown in Fig. 2. This catch. is secured in place by the hook 02F.

JIhe'pIatt'Orm carried by the brackets is provided upon its upper face with the rabbeted O ndercut cleats M, rigidly secured thereto, and are boards or planks designed to slide beneath and be held thereby, and when the brackets are adjusted to the desired position the boards are slid out, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and i, to term supports for longitudinal boards for a scatii'old or staging, or to connect: the platjtj'orm with the windows of the building when used as a fire-escape.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing description that when the device is to be used as a tire-escape a single one of the seetional uprights, with its accompanying platform and operating mechanism, may be employed. \Vhen used as a seatli'old for building purposes, a series of these uprights are employed, and in, this case the small single or fire-escape platforms are dispensed with, and the planks used as a tloor for the seattold are extended from one upright to another, resting upon the bracket-arms or timbers which serve to support the tire-escape platform. In order to guard against the possible loss of the nuts that are used upon the bolts that are employed in securing the several parts to gether, I ordinarily provide the nut with a handle or extension to be used in turning the same, and provide a case or cover to retain the nut when detached, as I have shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. It will be at once understood upon reterrin g to this figure of the drawings that the bolt passing through the parts is of less diameter than the hole through which it passes, and that, the nut being al' lowed to turn,but retained within the guards, upon turning the nut the bolt will be forced out at the opposite end of the hole and. the nut will. be retained.

\Vhat I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a scatli'old, the combination, with the upright formed upon its rear face with a rib, 0,012 the block en gaging said rib, the adjustable arm carried by said block, and an. arm carried by said arm and adjustable at right angles thereto, substantially as described.

2. In a seatiohl, the combination, with the upright and the lateral arm, of the arm I), connected to said lateral arm and formed of two parts slidingly connected together, and means, as the shaft f, pinions g and 71., and toothed bar (7', for lengthening said arm, as and for the purpose specified.

1- The combination, with the upright and the lateral arm, of the arm I), connected to said arm and :t'ormed of two parts, one sliding within. the other, and formed with teeth, a pinion on. the fixed part of said arm engagin with the toothed part, and a rotatable pinionv engaging said racked or toothed part, sub stantially as described.

it. The combii'iation, with the upright having racked face, of the brackets, the pinion carried thereby, the smaller pinion, also carried by said brackets and. meshing with the larger pinion and. with the teeth of the upright, and the flywheel on the shaft of the larger pinion, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the upright hav- In testimony whereof I atfixmy signature in ing racked face and the brackets movable presence of two Witnesses. vertically on said upright, 0f the dog L, the T spring-pawl K, both adapted to engage the 1G MAURER' teeth of the upright, and a lever arranged to Vitnesses: operate said pawl and dog simultaneously, FRANKLIN H. HOUGH, substantially as described. A. RUPPERT. 

